The Three-Point Revolution: Steph Curry, “Moreyball,” and How Math Changed the League and Team Design

The NBA has changed in the past twenty years with the advent of the three-point shot. This change has been propelled by advanced analytics, the disruptive style of play of new players, and the adaptable strategies of teams. A universal game of basketball has changed.

The team average for three-point attempts per game in the 2000-01 season was 13.7 attempts. They will become 35.2 in the 2024-25 season. It has shifted the game and player efficiency since it is 50% more than two points. It has purposely changed the game and the efficacy of overall efficiency with play. The game evolved to be more strategic, and teams changed how they configured their offense and defense.

The Impact of Statistics and “Moreyball”

The analytical revolution in basketball came to be known as “Moreyball,” after the Houston Rockets former general manager Daryl Morey. Morey proposed that players should only take the most efficient shots in basketball, which could be either layups or three-pointers.

Data in the season of 2024-25 shows that the majority of shots per game are three-pointers, where a team such as the Golden State Warriors is consistently the leader in the league in offensive efficiency, while also being among the highest in NBA betting odds. The Morey value-based analytical strategy has allowed teams to build rosters impacted by players who either shoot deep or space the floor. The countries of Mongolia and Indonesia are two places where basketball is becoming increasingly popular, and local analysts are utilizing the Morey strategy for betting markets and fan engagement.

Team Stats

Team	Three-Point Attempts per Game (2024-25)	Offensive Rating (Points per 100 Possessions)
Golden State Warriors	41.2	118.5
Boston Celtics	39.8	117.9
Houston Rockets	37.4	115.3

Stephen Curry’s Role in Redefining the Game

Stephen Curry is often viewed as the best shooter in the history of the NBA. He has also been the most influential player in the history of the game when talking about three-point shooting. His three-point shooting changed the game in terms of how far defenses need to stretch. Curry is also the most influential style of shooter in the NBA today. His three-point shooting style has encouraged many players to adopt the versatility of range shooting. There are many teams that look for players with the same shooting range as Curry. His main aspects of influence include:

Unprecedented Shooting Range: Curry’s three-point shooting changed the way players defend the basket. They now defend differently when players shoot from over 30 feet.
Cultural Influence: Young players in places like Mongolia and Indonesia have begun to shoot like Curry. This has greatly contributed to the worldwide increase in three-point shooting.
Playmaking Synergy: With Curry’s range shooting, the pick-and-roll plays and off-ball movements become more effective. This is because defenses are drawn out to the three-point line, creating more plays for the teammates who are driving to the hoop.
Defensive Adjustments: Some teams use specific tactics to help their players, like double-teaming Curry when he’s beyond the three-point line, and leaving his teammates open for easy shots.

This has changed how teams build their rosters for the better. Teams now prefer versatile guards and wings who can shoot, dribble, and pass the ball, and they seem to be moving away from having traditional big men who focus on post play.

Roster Construction and Team Design

Three-point shooting has become the center of gravity of the sport today, erasing the need for roster building. General Managers want all-in-one players and players capable of shooting consistently from long range. The 2024-25 Golden State Warriors are a prime example of this. The Department of Players Exceptions who shot above 38% from three, this is a huge leap from the 2000-01 season, where even two players who shot above 38% from three were considered an extraordinary season. This is what we began with: a position-less game, and the earliest teams started valuing Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum for size and shooting. It’s shooting, therefore it’s valuable.

Internationally, fans in Indonesia review players on the MelBet Indonesia site for game and player statistics and analytics. This is the analytics revolution. In modern times, spacing is the dominant issue as a traditional center has become obsolete in the game. The centers represented 12% of shots produced by players in the 2024-25 season. This is in contrast to traditional centers accounting for 25% shots of the players in the 2000-01 season.

Key Roster Trends in The Three-Point Era

There has been a growing trend towards acquiring more wings, specifically players in the height range of 6’6″ to 6’9″ with shooting abilities of 38% or more from 3-point territory.
Traditional post-up centers have begun to decline. In the 2024-2025 season, we anticipate seeing 8% or less of the field goal attempts being taken post-up.
The rising influence of “switchable” defenders is a direct response to the 3-point-heavy offensive tactics of rival teams.
The use of advanced analytics in player recruitment has evolved to the assessment of players with effective field goal percentages.

The Global Impact and What’s to Come

A 3-point revolution has spread through basketball across the world, and is beginning to seep into secondary markets such as Mongolia and Indonesia. Coaches have changed training habits to teach youth to practice and grow into – 3-point shooters from distance- far and away.

Asia has long been a majority 3-point shooting region- with teams trying to pull the trigger on a 3-point attempt to a higher frequency in FIBA competitions in 2024, than in 2018. Since the popularity of Moreyball was established in teams, NBA teams today have experimented with machine-learned algorithms to reshape their games plans to improve optimal shot quality and quantity on defense.

With analytics evolving, we can look forward to in-game real-time analytics. The legacy of Moreyball and Curry remains; the age of mathematic precision offers game reconstruction to alter team schemes and team strategy has been built. This has changed the game across the world and the way it is played.